PM calls for better train service

Prime Minister David Cameron has added his voice to calls for a better service from local rail operators,

Mr Cameron was speaking this week on a visit to Hastings.

A Southern train ENGPPP00120101215144317

He said: “In the short-term we need to see rail operators doing better in terms of customer satisfaction.

His comments come in the wake of a national customer satisfaction survey that saw both Southern and Southeastern rated in the bottom three of 21 UK rail operators.

Southern, which run trains on the Rye line, was the worst for delays with 39 percent of passengers saying they were held up the last time they travelled.

Rye commuters have complained about cramped two carriage trains and a poor connection with the London service at Ashford.

Mr Cameron stressed the importance of good travel links and believes extending the high speed network could transform the area,

He commented: “Javelin trains, with the speeds they achieve and the shorter journey times could be a game-changer.”

A spokesperson for Southern said: “We care about what passengers think of us and we know that because of performance problems our service has been below the level expected. We know the key to improving satisfaction is improving performance.”

Ray Chapman, co-founder of East Sussex Rail Alliance, said: “Decades of under-investment in the railway infrastructure has bitten commuters.

“We have just seen £30 million invested across the local rail network over the past three years including a new multi-million signalling system across the coast.”